U.S. patent application number 10/325164 was filed with the patent office on 2004-06-24 for apparatuses and methods of physically restricting access to a connecting device for use with a data processing system.
Invention is credited to Chong, Fay JR., Grouell, William L..
Application Number | 20040122911 10/325164 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32593678 |
Filed Date | 2004-06-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040122911 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chong, Fay JR. ; et
al. |
June 24, 2004 |
Apparatuses and methods of physically restricting access to a
connecting device for use with a data processing system
Abstract
An interconnecting device for a data processing system. The
interconnecting device comprises a first plurality of connection
ports for connecting to first components of the data processing
system. The interconnecting device further comprises a second
plurality of connection ports for connecting to second components
of the data processing system. And, a cover is affixed over the
first plurality of connection ports to restrict access to the first
plurality of connection ports.
Inventors: |
Chong, Fay JR.; (Cupertino,
CA) ; Grouell, William L.; (San Ramon, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
James C. Scheller
BLAKELY, SOKOLOFF, TAYLOR & ZAFMAN LLP
Seventh Floor
12400 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles
CA
90025-1026
US
|
Family ID: |
32593678 |
Appl. No.: |
10/325164 |
Filed: |
December 19, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
709/217 ;
709/249 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 13/4022
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
709/217 ;
709/249 |
International
Class: |
G06F 015/16 |
Claims
We claim:
1. An interconnecting device for a data processing system
comprising: a first plurality of connection ports for connecting to
first components of said data processing system; a second plurality
of connection ports for connecting to second components of said
data processing system; and a cover placed over said first
plurality of connection ports to restrict access to said first
plurality of connection ports.
2. The interconnecting device as in claim 1 wherein said
interconnecting device is selected from a group consisting of a
router, a switch router, a switch, a hub, a Fibre Channel switch,
and a Fibre Channel hub.
3. The interconnecting device as in claim 1 wherein said data
processing system is a data storage network.
4. The interconnecting device as in claim 1 wherein said first
components comprise at least one of data storage devices, data
storage servers, and data storage controller devices and wherein
said cover is removable.
5. The interconnecting device as in claim 1 wherein said second
components comprise at least one of workstations, host data
processing systems, data storage devices, and client data
processing systems.
6. The interconnecting device as in claim 1 further comprises a
controller interconnected to one of said first plurality of
connection ports, said controller manages data transfers at least
one of within said data processing system, to said data processing
system, and from said data processing system.
7. The interconnecting device as in claim 1 wherein said first
plurality of connection ports and said second plurality of
connections ports are located on one side of said interconnecting
device.
8. The interconnecting device as in claim 1 wherein said first
plurality of connection ports and said second plurality of
connection ports are located on the side of said data processing
system that faces the external environment of said data processing
system.
9. The interconnecting device as in claim 1 wherein said data
processing system is constrained in a housing wherein said second
components are external components located externally to said
housing and wherein said first components are internal components
located within said housing.
10. A storage network comprising: an interconnecting device having
a first plurality of connection ports and a second plurality of
connection ports, wherein a cover is placed over said first
plurality of connection ports to restrict access to said first
plurality of connection ports; at least one data storage device,
said at least data storage device coupled to one of said first
plurality of connection ports; and wherein data are transferred
between said at least one data storage device and at least one
workstation via said interconnecting device, wherein said at least
one workstation is connectable to one of said second plurality of
connection ports.
11. The storage network as in claim 10 wherein said interconnecting
device is selected from a group consisting of a router, a switch
router, a switch, a hub, a Fibre Channel switch, and a Fibre
Channel hub.
12. The storage network as in claim 10 further comprising a
controller interconnected to one of said first plurality of ports,
said controller manages data transfers at least one of within said
storage network, to said storage network, and from said storage
network.
13. The storage network as in claim 10 wherein said first plurality
of connection ports and said second plurality of connections ports
are located on one side of said interconnecting device.
14. The storage network as in claim 10 wherein said at least one
data storage device and said interconnecting device are contained
within a housing wherein said first plurality of connection ports
and said second plurality of connections ports are located on one
side of said interconnecting device, wherein only said second
plurality of connection ports are exposed, and wherein said cover
physically restrict access to said first plurality of connection
ports.
15. A storage system comprising: a switch having a first plurality
of connection ports and a second plurality of connection ports,
wherein a cover is affixed over said first plurality of connection
ports to restrict access to said first plurality of connection
ports; a controller interconnected to one of said first plurality
of connection ports; at least one data storage device, said at
least data storage device interconnected to another of said first
plurality of connection ports; and wherein said switch is
configured to transfer data between said at least one data storage
device and at least one workstation connectable to one of said
second plurality of connection ports, and wherein said storage
controller is configured to manage at least one of storage of data
and transfer of data within said storage system.
16. The storage system as in claim 15 wherein said switch is a
Fibre Channel switch.
17. The storage system as in claim 15 wherein said at least one
data storage device said interconnecting device, and said
controller are contained within a housing wherein said first
plurality of connection ports and said second plurality of
connections ports are located on one side of said interconnecting
device, wherein only said second plurality of connection ports are
exposed, and wherein said cover physically restricts access to said
first plurality of connection ports.
18. A method of restricting access to an interconnecting device of
a data processing system comprising: providing a first plurality of
connection ports on said interconnecting device, said first
plurality of connection ports allowing connection of said
interconnecting device to first components of said data processing
system; providing a second plurality of connection ports on said
interconnecting device, said second plurality of connection ports
allowing connection of said interconnecting device to second
components of said data processing system; and placing a cover over
said first plurality of connection ports to physically restrict
access to said first plurality of connection ports, wherein said
interconnecting device is configured to transfer data between said
first components and second components of said data processing
system.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein said internal components
comprise at least one of a controller and a data storage
device.
20. The method of claim 18 wherein said external components
comprise at least one of workstations, host data processing systems
and client data processing systems.
21. The method of claim 18 wherein said data processing system is
constrained in a housing wherein said second components are
external components located externally to said housing and wherein
said first components are internal components located within said
housing
22. A method of restricting access to an interconnecting device of
a storage network comprising: providing an interconnecting device
having a first plurality of connection ports and a second plurality
of connection ports; placing a cover over said first plurality of
connection ports to physically restrict access to said first
plurality of connection ports; coupling at least one data storage
device to one of said first plurality of connection ports; and
wherein data are transferred between said at least one data storage
device and at least one workstation via said interconnecting
device, said at least one workstation is connectable to one of said
second plurality of connection ports.
23. The method of claim 22 further comprising: coupling a
controller to said another of said first plurality of connection
ports wherein said controller is configured to manage data transfer
between said at least one data storage device and said at least one
workstation.
24. An interconnecting device for a data processing system
comprising: a first connection port for connecting to a first
component of said data processing system; a second connection port
for connecting to a second component of said data processing
system; and a cover placed over said first connection port to
physically restrict access to said first connection port.
25. A storage network comprising: an interconnecting device having
a first connection port and a second connection port, wherein a
cover is placed over said first connection port to restrict access
to said first connection port; at least one data storage device,
said at least data storage device coupled to said first connection
port; and wherein data are transferred between said at least one
data storage device and at least one workstation via said
interconnecting device, said at least one workstation connectable
to said second connection port.
Description
FIELD
[0001] The present inventions relates to physically restricting
access to a connecting device such as a switch or a hub
interconnected to a data processing such as a data storage system
or a data storage network.
BACKGROUND
[0002] An interconnecting device such as a router, a switch, or a
hub is widely used in many data processing systems. For example, in
data communication system, a router, a switch, or a hub is used as
a communication channel(s) for the exchanges or transfers of data.
A router, a switch, or a hub allows for communication within a
storage network, a data exchange network, an Internet system, and
other data processing systems involving in transferring of data
from one location to another location. A router, a switch, or a hub
does this by linking or interconnecting one or multiple host data
processing systems (or workstations) to one or multiple data
storage sources or servers. A router, a switch, or a hub also
creates an intelligent connection framework leading to efficient
accesses and transfers of stored data.
[0003] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a switch 100 which may be
used in a storage network. The switch 100 can be a Fibre Channel
(FC) switch in one example. Typically, the switch 100 includes an
on/off switch 102, a power connection 104, an Ethernet port 106,
and a plurality of switch ports 110. In one example, the switch
ports 110 are GBIC (Gigabit Interface Converter) ports. The on/off
switch 102 turns the switch 100 on or off. The power connection 104
allows power to be supplied to the switch 100. The Ethernet port
106 allows the switch 100 to interconnect to a service processor or
another system for administration of the switch 100. The switch
ports 110 allow for host data processing systems (not shown) and
data storage systems/servers (not shown) to connect to the switch
100. The switch ports 110 may be hot-pluggable, auto discoverable,
and/or capable of self-configuration.
[0004] Interconnecting devices such as routers, switches or hubs
are usually coupled to other devices. For example, they
interconnect with a network system or a data processing system
through cables. FIG. 2 illustrates a conventional data processing
system 200, which includes a server 202, a switch (or hub) 204, a
data storage system 206, and a workstation 208. The switch 204
interconnects with the server 202 via a cable. The workstation 208,
which may also interconnect with the switch 204 via a cable, can
access the storage system 206 through the switch 204. Through the
switch 204, the workstation 208 is also interconnected to the
server 200. The server 202 manages the data storage system 206 and
allows for data to be transferred between the storage system 206
and the workstation 208. For example, the workstation 204 may send
a request to the server 202 via the switch 204 for a particular set
of data. The server 202 receives and analyzes the request and sends
a request to the data storage 206 via the switch 204 to retrieve
the particular data set and send to the workstation 208.
Alternatively, the server 202 may requests the data storage 206 to
send the data to the workstation 208 directly.
[0005] In most cases, the switch 204 is the interconnecting device
that provides interconnections for all components within the data
processing system 200. The switch 204 (or the hub) may comprise a
plurality of switch ports similar to the switch ports 110 shown in
FIG. 1. Some switch ports are dedicated for connection to the host
computers or workstations 208 and some switch ports are dedicated
for the data storage systems 206 and the server 202. Often, these
switch ports appear identical thus, it is difficult to determine
which switch ports are for the workstation 208 and which switch
ports are for the data storage systems 206 and the server 202.
[0006] In most cases, it is not desirable to allow inadvertent
disconnection to certain switch ports. For example, an inadvertent
disconnection of the data storage system 206 and the server 202
from the switch 204 may cause disruption or disablement of the data
processing system 200. An inadvertent disconnection may be caused
by allowing access to all of the switch ports in the switch 204
and/or by having the switch ports appear identical or similar.
Also, the switch ports are often interchangeable making it more
difficult to distinguish between the ports and their respective
connection cables. Currently, markings, colorings, or tapings are
affixed or incorporated to the certain switch ports where
disconnections are not allowed or where disconnections will cause
detrimental effect to the data processing systems. Even with these
measures, inadvertent disconnections are not preventable since any
one of the connections to the switch could be disconnected at any
time and markings/tapings are only warnings that may be missed or
ignored.
SUMMARY
[0007] It is useful to provide an interconnecting device that
allows some connection ports to be physically restricted.
[0008] In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an
interconnecting device for a data processing system is disclosed.
The interconnecting device comprises a first plurality of
connection ports for connecting to first components of the data
processing system. The interconnecting device further comprises a
second plurality of connection ports for connecting to second
components of the data processing system. And, a cover is placed
over the first plurality of connection ports to physically restrict
access to the first plurality of connection ports.
[0009] In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a
storage network is disclosed. The storage network comprises an
interconnecting device having a first plurality of connection ports
and a second plurality of connection ports, wherein a cover is
placed over the first plurality of connection ports to physically
restrict access to the plurality of connection ports. At least one
data storage device is coupled to one of the first plurality of
connection ports. Data are transferred between at least one data
storage device and at least one workstation via the interconnecting
device wherein at least one workstation is connectable to the
interconnecting device.
[0010] In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a
storage system is disclosed. The storage system comprises a switch
having a first plurality of connection ports and a second plurality
of connection ports, wherein a cover is placed over the first
plurality of connection ports to physically restrict access to the
first plurality of connection ports. A controller is interconnected
to one of the first plurality of connection ports. At least one
data storage device is interconnected to another of the first
plurality of connection ports. At least one workstation is coupled
to one of the second plurality of connection ports. The switch is
configured to transfer data between the at least one data storage
device and the at least one workstation and wherein the controller
is configured to manage at least one of the storage of data and the
transfer of data within the storage device.
[0011] The various embodiments of an interconnecting device which
are described here may be used as a switch or a hub in a storage
network such as a Storage Area Network (SAN) or as a Network
Attached Storage (NAS) system, and the interconnecting device,
together with the storage devices which it interconnects to other
systems, may be considered a part of the storage network. In this
case, the storage devices may be considered to be internal
components (within the storage network and managed at least in part
by the interconnecting device) and the other systems (e.g., a
remotely located client computer system) may be considered external
components.
[0012] The methods of physically restricting access to an
interconnecting device of a data processing system and other
exemplary embodiments are also disclosed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The present invention is illustrated by way of example and
not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in
which like references indicate similar elements and in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary switch as an example of an
interconnecting device;
[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates a conventional data processing system
that includes an interconnecting device such as a switch;
[0016] FIGS. 3-4 illustrate an exemplary interconnecting device in
accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary data processing system that
incorporates an exemplary interconnecting device in accordance with
exemplary embodiments of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 6 illustrates another exemplary data processing system
that incorporates exemplary interconnecting devices in accordance
with exemplary embodiments of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary method of physically
restricting access to an interconnecting device; and
[0020] FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary method of physically
restricting access to an interconnecting device that is
incorporated into a data storage network.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] The exemplary embodiments of the present invention pertain
to an interconnecting device for use with a data processing system
wherein the interconnecting device has connection ports that are
physically restricted. The interconnecting device with physically
restricted access prevents or makes difficult inadvertent or
undesirable disconnection of certain components from the data
processing system. In the following description, for purposes of
explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to
provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will
be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present
invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other
instances, specific apparatus structures and methods have not been
described so as not to obscure the present invention. The following
description and drawings are illustrative of the invention and are
not to be construed as limiting the invention.
[0022] FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 illustrate different views of an exemplary
embodiment of an interconnecting device 302 that can be
incorporated into a data processing system (e.g., a data storage
network, a data storage system, a data storage subsystem or a data
storage rack). The interconnecting device 302 comprises a housing
301, a first plurality of connection ports 304 (ports 304), a
second plurality of connection ports 306 (ports 306), a cover 308,
and an input/output panel 310. The interconnecting device 302 can
be a switch, a hub, a Fibre Channel switch, a Fibre Channel hub, a
router, a switch router, or other interconnecting device configured
or modified in accordance to the exemplary embodiments of the
present invention. The ports 304 and 306 can be conventional
interconnecting ports such as switch ports, hub ports, and in one
embodiment, the ports 304 and 306 are GBIC (GigaBit Interface
Converter) ports. The housing 301 encloses all of the necessary
electrical components of the interconnecting device 302 as is well
known in the art.
[0023] In one embodiment, ports 304 and the ports 306 are extended
into and located on the input/output panel 310 to provide an easy
access or interface to the ports 304 and 306. The ports 304 and 306
are on the same side (and same panel) of the box-like
interconnecting device 302. In some embodiments, all connections
into the interconnecting device 303 may be on this side/panel. Some
or all of the ports from the ports 304 and 306 can be physically
restricted. To prevent undesirable or inadvertent disconnections,
ports that are dedicated to connection with internal or important
components of the data processing system should be physically
restricted. Physically restricting the ports indicates that the
physical accesses to the ports are restricted, prevented or made
difficult thereby preventing one from simply reaching the ports and
accessing the ports. Alternatively, physically restricting the
ports makes access to the ports difficult such that inadvertent
disconnection is not easy.
[0024] In one embodiment, the ports 304, which are those reserved
for connections with the internal components are physically
restricted. The ports 306 are not physically restricted, thus, they
are exposed for easy of connection. To physically restrict access
to the connection ports on the interconnecting device 302, the
cover 308 is affixed or placed over the ports 304. The cover 308
does not electrically restrict access to the first plurality of
connection ports 304 thus, allowing for change in the internal
connections whenever necessary. The cover 308 prevents inadvertent
(or makes difficult) disconnection of the connections between the
internal components and the ports 304. For instance, to access the
ports 304, one must go behind or underneath the cover 308 to get to
the ports 304. Alternatively, to access the ports 304, one must
detach, remove, or decouple the cover 308 (if that is allowed as
configured by the manufacturer of the interconnecting device
302).
[0025] The interconnecting device 302 with the cover 308 enables
the manufacturers of the data processing systems that
incorporate/integrate the interconnecting device 302 to control
which components of the data processing systems can be disconnected
and which cannot be disconnected. For example, those components
that should not be easily disconnected are connected to the
interconnecting device through the ports 304 which are physically
restricted by the cover 308. And, those components that can be
replaced, exchanged, or otherwise disconnected without affecting
major functions of the data processing system are connected to the
interconnecting device through the ports 306 that are exposed.
Additionally, the interconnecting device 302 with the cover 308
allows the manufacturers of the data processing systems to create
easy access for the client data processing systems (or host data
processing systems) to be connected to these data processing
systems (e.g., via the ports 306 that are exposed) while
restricting access to connections of the internal components of
other essential components that should not be disconnected from
these data processing systems with the cover 308.
[0026] Internal components and/or external components of the data
processing system that incorporates/integrates the interconnecting
device 302 can be connected to either the ports 304 or 306. In one
embodiment, the internal components are connected to the
interconnecting device 302 through the ports 304 and the external
components are connected to the interconnecting device 302 through
the ports 306.
[0027] Internal components can be referred to as components of the
data processing system that are enclosed within a housing (e.g., a
rack, a bay, or a cabinet) that contains the data processing
system. The internal components can also be referred to as
components that are the core or essential components of the data
processing system. For example, when the data processing system is
a data storage network, the internal components may be referred to
data storage devices, data storage servers, or data storage switch
systems where data are stored. Additionally, the internal
components may be referred to a server that manages the data
processing system. Alternatively, when the data processing system
is a data storage rack, the internal components may be referred to
as data storage devices contained within the rack/bay/cabinet that
physically contains the data processing system. Additionally, the
internal components may be referred to a controller or a storage
controller that manages the data storage rack. The data processing
system can also be a computer subsystem of a larger network data
processing system wherein multiple subsystems are interconnected to
form the network computer. Here, the internal components for each
subsystem are referred to components that are contained within the
housing that is used to physically contain a particular subsystem.
In a larger network type of data processing system, internal
components may be components that are essential or necessary for
the data processing system to function properly, for example, a
central server, a controller, a data storage device, which is
connected to the data processing system. It is to be appreciated
that the data processing system can be an open system and need not
be contained within a housing.
[0028] External components are typically host data processing
systems, workstations, client data processing systems, or other
components that are external to the data processing system or the
subsystem. External components can also be referred to as
components that reside outside of the main housing that stores most
components of the data processing system. External components can
also be referred to as components that are remotely located client
computer systems. For example, when the data processing system is a
data storage network with several computer subsystems, external
components are those components that reside outside of each
subsystem. In some cases, external components can be an additional
data storage device externally connectable to the data processing
system or the subsystem, for example, as in embodiments where the
data storage devices can be expanded or added to the data
processing system externally.
[0029] In one embodiment, the internal components are components
that are connected to the data processing system in a permanent or
substantially permanent fashion whereas the external components are
components that are connected to the data processing system in a
non-permanent or in an interchangeable fashion.
[0030] In one embodiment, the ports 304 are reserved for internal
components of the data processing system to connect to the
interconnecting device 302. The ports 306 are reserved for external
components of the data processing system to connect to the
interconnecting device 302. Alternatively, the ports 304 are
reserved for components that are permanently or substantially
permanently connected to the interconnecting device 302. The ports
306 are reserved for components that are not permanently or
substantially permanently connected to the interconnecting device
302. In one embodiment, the internal connections are reserved for
components that are connected to the interconnecting device 302
substantially permanently or in a way that disconnection requires a
special access to the data processing system. The external
connections to the interconnecting device 302 are reserved for
components that can be interchanged, replaced, changed, or
otherwise disconnected. For example, connections from host data
processing systems, workstations, or client data processing systems
that need to access the data processing system are considered
external components. These computers can be changed without
affecting the functions of the data processing system.
[0031] The input/output panel 310 allows for easy connections to
the interconnecting device 302. Without the input/output panel 310,
wires, cables, or connection lines need to be extended from the
interconnecting device 302 to the outside of the interconnecting
device 302 to allow for connections to the device 302. Then, an
input/output panel would need to be attached to the data processing
system, typically, on the surface of the data processing system
where the interconnecting device 302 would be coupled to in order
to allow external components to connect to the interconnecting
device 302. Including the input/output panel 310 directly on the
interconnecting device 302 allows the external and/or internal
components to connect directly to the interconnecting device 302
without the need for additional wirings or cables. As shown in FIG.
3 and FIG. 4, the input/output panel 310 also includes a plurality
of receptacles or jacks 305 and 307, which act as interfaces for
the ports 304 and 306, respectively. The internal or external
components are equipped with cables having mating plugs or
connectors that can be plugged into the jacks 305 and 307 to
establish connections from these components to the interconnecting
device 302.
[0032] In one embodiment, the cover 308 is coupled or is attached
to the input/output panel 310. The cover 308 can be created or made
separately and then be placed, adhered, or coupled to the input/out
panel 310 using conventional methods (e.g., by using adhesive or
mechanical connections). In one embodiment, the cover 308 can be
permanently affixed to the input/output panel 310. In another
embodiment, the cover 308 may be coupled to the input/output panel
310 in a way that allows the cover 308 to be removed if necessary.
In yet another embodiment, the cover 308 may also be coupled in a
way that allow the cover 308 to slide from one side of the
input/output panel 310 to the other side. This is especially useful
when the cover 308 needs to physically restrict access to different
ports, for example, the ports 306. In this embodiment, the cover
308 may be slide over to the ports where restriction to access is
necessary. Also in this embodiment, the cover 308 should be
provided with a locking mechanism to allow the cover 308 to be
locked into position relative to the input/output panel 310. In yet
another embodiment, the cover 308 is an extension of the
input/output panel 310 and can be created at same time and out of
the same piece of starting material with the input/output panel
310.
[0033] The cover 308 has a dimension that is sufficient to
physically restrict external access to the first plurality of
connection ports 304. In other words, the cover 308 is sufficiently
dimensioned to cover or substantially cover all of the ports 304.
In one embodiment, the cover 308 has a height 314 and a length 316.
The height 314 can be (but need not be) the same as the height 324
of the input/output panel 310. The length 316 is sufficiently long
to cover all of the first plurality of connection ports 304 that
are reserved for internal connections. The cover 308 also has a
width 312 that is sufficiently large to accommodate the necessary
turning or bending of the cables that are used for connections to
the first plurality of connections ports 304. It is to be
appreciated that restricting the port 304 is only an example of how
the cover 308 may be used to physically restrict access to a
particular set of ports. The cover 308 can be used to physically
restrict access to other ports as necessary, for example the ports
306. Alternatively, the cover 308 may also be used to physically
restrict some ports from the first plurality of connections ports
304 and some ports from the second plurality of connections ports
306. Thus, the cover 308 is to be placed over the area that
includes the ports that need to be physically restricted.
[0034] In one embodiment, the width 312 is sufficiently large to
accommodate a minimum clearance space that a plurality of Fibre
Channel cables would need to have for these cables to function
properly. In one embodiment, the Fibre Channel cables are of the
types that have bending radii of about 25-150 mm. In this
embodiment, the width 312 would be dimensioned at about 50-80 mm to
allow for the bending of the Fibre Channel cables. In other
embodiments, the width 312 is sufficiently large to allow for
bending of the Fibre Channel cables without damaging the Fibre
Channel cables.
[0035] In one embodiment, both the external components and the
internal components connect to the interconnecting device 302 from
one side of the interconnecting device 302 as shown in FIG. 3. In
this embodiment, the ports 304 and the ports 306 are located on the
same side, side 311, of the interconnecting device 302. In one
embodiment, the side 311 is the side facing the front of the data
processing system. In another embodiment, the side 311 is the side
facing the back of the data processing system. In yet another
embodiment, the side 311 faces the external environment of the data
processing system.
[0036] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the external
components connect to the jacks 307 using cables 317 with no need
for bending in the cables 317. The internal components connect to
the ports 304 directly into the jacks 305 using cables 315 in a
bent fashion, for example, in a 90-degree angle or in a 180-degree
angle. In this embodiment, the internal components are placed or
situated behind the side 311 of the interconnecting device 302
thus, turning or bending of the cables 315 is necessary to reach
the internal components. And, as shown in this figure, the cables
315 are bent around the side 313 of the interconnecting device 302.
A minimum clearance space is provided (through the width 312) for
the cables 315 to bend around the interconnecting device 302 to
prevent damages or interferences to the functions of the cables
315. In one embodiment, the cables 315 and 317 are Fibre Channel
cables and the minimum clearance space provided is sufficient to
accommodate for the bending radii of these Fibre Channel
cables.
[0037] In one embodiment, accesses to the ports 304 are restricted
after the internal connections to the ports 304 are made. In the
embodiment where the internal components include at least one of
the data storage systems and data storage system controllers,
connections from the interconnecting device 302 to these internal
components via the ports 304 and the cables 315 are made before the
cover 308 is affixed to the input/output panel 310 to prevent
physical access to the ports 304.
[0038] In another embodiment, the interconnecting device 302 is
configured with the cover 308 prior to the connection of the
interconnecting device 302 to the internal components. In the
embodiment where the internal components include at least one of
the data storage systems and data storage system controllers, the
cables 315 from the internal components can be plugged into the
jacks 304 from underneath the interconnecting device 302.
[0039] In one exemplary embodiment, FIG. 5 illustrates a data
processing system 300 that incorporates or integrates an
interconnecting device 302 that has connections wherein some of
which are physically restricted as previously described. The data
processing system 300 can be a data storage system, a data storage
rack, a data storage network, or other data processing systems
involving in data transfers. The data processing system 300
comprises at least one data storage device 330, and as illustrated
in FIG. 5, four data storage devices 330 are included. In one
embodiment, the data processing system 300 also includes a
controller 332, which manages data transfers within and/or from the
data processing system 300. The data processing system 300
comprises an interconnecting device 302 as previously described.
The interconnecting device 302 allows for host computers or
workstations 334 to connect to the data processing system 300.
Additionally, the interconnecting device 302 also allows for other
external components of the data processing system 300 (e.g.,
another data storage device, not shown), to be connected to the
data processing system 300. The interconnecting device 302 also
allows for internal components of the data processing system 300
(e.g., the data storage device 330 and the controller 332) to be
connected to the data processing system 300.
[0040] As described above, the interconnecting device 302 includes
the ports 304 which are reserved for internal connections and the
ports 306 which are reserved for external connections. In one
embodiment, each of the data storage devices 330 is coupled to one
of the ports 304 of the interconnecting device 302. Each of the
workstations 334 is coupled to one of the ports 306 of the
interconnecting device 302. And, the controller 332 is connected to
one of the ports 304. Data are transferred between at least one
data storage system 334 and at least one workstation 330 via the
interconnecting device 302. The controller 332 manages the data
transfers between the workstation 334 and the data storage device
330.
[0041] In one embodiment, the interconnecting device 302 allows for
communication channels to be established between the data storage
device 330 and the workstations 334. Accesses to the connections
for the internal components such as the data storage device 330 and
the controller 332 are physically restricted by the cover 308 (see
FIG. 3) placed over the ports 304 so that inadvertent disconnection
of the data storage devices 330 and/or the controller 332 is
prevented or at least made difficult. One reason for this is that
disruption to the internal connection (e.g., connections with the
data storage devices 330 and the controller 332) may cause
disruption to the function of the data processing system 300. For
example, inadvertent disconnection of the data storage device 330
or the controller 332 while data is being transferred from either
one of these components to any one of the workstation 334 will
cause disruption to the data transfer or the data processing system
300.
[0042] In one embodiment, connections from the workstations 334 to
the interconnecting device 302 can be flexible or interchangeable.
For example, one workstation 334 can replace another workstation
334. Alternatively, another external components (e.g., an
additional data storage device) can replace a workstation 334.
Connections for external components thus, should be easily
accessible. In one embodiment, connection from the controller 332
to the interconnecting device 302 is made to be permanent or
substantially permanent. Additionally, connections for the data
storage device 330 to the interconnecting device 302 are permanent
or substantially permanent. In the embodiment where the
interconnecting device 302 has all of the ports 304 and 306 on one
side, accesses to the connections from the internal components are
physically restricted by the cover 308 to prevent inadvertent
disconnection of the internal components of the data processing
system 300 (e.g., the data storage device 330 and the controller
332).
[0043] The interconnecting device 302 transmits command packets
between the workstations 334, the data storage devices 330, and the
controller 332. In one embodiment, a particular workstation 334
makes a request for a particular data set from a particular data
storage device 330. The workstation 334 sends a command packet to
the controller 332 via the interconnecting device 302, which
transmits the command packet to the controller 332. Upon analyzing
and/or translating of the command packet, the controller 332 routes
the command packet to the appropriate data storage device 330. The
controller 332 may determine the appropriate data storage device
330 that stores the particular data set that the particular
workstation 334 requests and routes the request to that particular
data storage device 330. In one embodiment, the controller 332
generates another command packet and sends it to the data storage
device 330 in accordance to the command packet sent by the
workstation 334. Data is then retrieved from the data storage
device 330 and sent to the workstation 334 via the interconnecting
device 302. The data can be routed directly to the workstation 334
via the interconnecting device 302 or can be routed back to the
controller 332 which will then transmit the data to the appropriate
workstation 334. It is to be appreciated that there are several
ways of transferring data to the appropriate destination. For
instances, in some embodiments, a controller 332 are not needed to
manage the data transfer. Instead, the interconnecting device 302
can include a processor that can manage the data transfers from and
to the interconnecting device 302. In one embodiment, data
transfers are performed according to the methods described in the
U.S. Pat. No. 6,370,605, which is herein incorporated by
reference.
[0044] In one embodiment, the interconnecting device 302 is one of
the switches disclosed in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,370, 605 and
6,070,251, which are hereby incorporated by reference.
[0045] In one embodiment, the interconnecting device 302 includes a
CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown) and a memory. A
communication bus is coupled to the CPU. And, a memory bus couples
the CPU to the memory. The memory stores data routing information
(e.g., as generated by the controller 332). The interconnecting
device 302 uses the data routing information to route data directly
between the workstations 334 and the data storage devices 330. In
one embodiment, data need not be routed back to the controller 322
before it is routed to the appropriate workstations 334. The
controller 332 may include instructions in the command packet sent
to the data storage device 330 to instruct the data storage device
330 to retrieve the particular data set and send it directly to the
particular workstation 334 that requests for the particular data
set. Many well known protocols can be used for the data transfer
within, to, and from the data processing system 300. In one
embodiment, a Fibre Channel protocol well known in the art is
implemented for the transfer of data within, to, and from the data
processing system 300. In another embodiment, a SCSI (Small
Computer System Interface) well known in the art is implemented for
the transfer of data within, to, and from the data processing
system 300.
[0046] In one embodiment, the controller 332 manages the data
processing system 300. The controller 322 can be enclosed within
the data processing system 300, for example, as in an embodiment
where the data processing system 30 is contained in a housing
(e.g., rack, bay, or cabinet). Alternatively, the controller 332
can be external to the data processing system 300 as in an
embodiment where data processing system 300 is a subset of a larger
data storage network. The controller 332 can also be a server that
is included within the data processing system 300 as in an
embodiment where the data processing system 300 is a large data
storage network operated over the Internet. The controller 332 is
capable of managing data transfer and/or retrievals between the
workstations 334 and the data storage systems 330 and within the
data processing system 300. The controller 332 can receive and/or
send command, status, or data packets from either the workstations
334 or the data storage devices 330. The controller 332 can also
translate command, status, or data packets sent from the
workstations 334 wherein the packets may make requests for data
from any of the data storage devices 330. The controller 332 can
also transmit the packets from the workstations 334 to appropriate
data storage devices 330 either as identified by the workstations
334 or by the controller 332 performing analysis of the requests.
The controller 332 can also transmit a command, status, or data
packets from the data storage device 330 to any particular
workstation 334 as destination.
[0047] In one embodiment, the data processing system 300 does not
include the controller 332. Data transfer can be performed directly
between the workstations 334 and the data storage devices 330. In
this embodiment, the interconnecting device 302 is configured to be
able to manage the data transfers for the data processing system
300.
[0048] In one embodiment, the controller 322 is one of the
controllers disclosed in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,370, 605 and
6,070,251, which are hereby incorporated by reference.
[0049] The workstations 334 are host data processing systems,
servers, or stand-alone computers that need access to the data
processing system 300. Alternatively, the workstations 334 can be
client data processing systems that subscribe to the data service
of the data processing system 300.
[0050] In one embodiment, the connection ports 304 and 306 are
Fibre Channel ports. As is known in the art, a Fibre Channel port
simply manages a point-to-point connection between itself and the
Fibre channel fabric (here, the interconnecting device 302). Fibre
channel is a high performance serial link supporting its own, as
well as other higher level protocols such as FDDI (Fibre
Distributed Data Interface), SCSI, HIPPI, IPI (Intelligent
Peripheral Interface), etc. Fibre channel typically provides
control and complete error checking over the Fibre channel link. A
Fibre channel link includes two unidirectional Fibres transmitting
in opposite directions with their associated transmitter and
receiver. Each Fibre is attached to a transmitter of a port at one
end and a receiver of another port at the other end. A Fibre
channel may operate at a variety of speeds, for example, 1 Gbits/s,
2 Gbits/s, 4 Gbits/s, 10 Gbits/s, etc. Fibre channel transmission
distances vary depending on the combination of Fibre Channel speed
and the Fibre media (electrical or optical).
[0051] Fibre channel has two parties: (1) An originator or an
initiator port, and (2) A responder or a target port. The initiator
sends the command to the target. The target decodes the command and
data is transferred to or from the initiator depending on the
command. After the completion of data transfer, the target sends
status information to the initiator. The status information
indicates the status (i.e., valid data transfer, error during data
transfer, etc.) of the corresponding data transfer operation
initiated by the initiator.
[0052] In one embodiment, the initiator (a workstation 334) sends
commands to the target (the controller 332), and the data is
transferred directly between the data storage device 330 and the
workstation 334. In this embodiment, the interconnecting device 302
is configured with added capabilities. One of the most important
capabilities is to be able to redirect the Fibre channel data as
required by the Fibre channel protocol. In one embodiment,
additional hardware is added to the interconnecting device 302 to
replace a destination field in a data packet received from the data
storage device 330 with the node address of the workstation 334.
This effectively converts storage device data packets into
controller data packets as required by the Fibre protocol for
communication between the workstation 334 and the controller 332. A
detailed explanation of data redirection over Fibre channel may be
found in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,155, which is hereby incorporated
by reference.
[0053] Each of the data storage devices 330 can be a data storage
server or other system that can store data. The data storage device
330 can be a rack mountable storage having multiple magazines or an
array of disk drives contained in a bay or a cabinet. The magazines
are individual disk drives that store particular sets of data. The
magazines can be hot swappable, fully self-contained and have a
predetermined data storage capacity. In one embodiment, each data
storage device 330 may typically include more than one storage disk
and the storage disks (not shown) may be organized into disk arrays
in case of Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID)-based
storage architecture. The data storage device 330 may be one or
more discrete physical devices, e.g., disk drives, tape drives,
etc. Alternately, the data storage device 330 may be a storage
subsystem with more than one disk drives and a resident RAID
controller. Additionally, the data storage device 330 may allow
hot-swapping in the event of a disk failure. The data storage disks
may implement magnetic, optical or any other method of storing
high-volume data. Some examples of storage disks include CD ROMs,
magnetic tapes, videodisks, etc. Protection from power failures may
also be part of the data storage device architecture. In one
embodiment, the controller 332 may manage storage redundancy built
into the data storage device 330. The controller 332 may also be
configured to manage data recovery in the event of a storage device
hardware failure. The controller 332 may also issue appropriate
recovery commands in the event of data volume rebuilding after the
hardware failure. One or more RAID algorithms may also be used by
the controller 332 to manage such data storage and recovery
operations. In an alternative embodiment, the data storage device
330 may include a resident RAID controller (not shown). In this
configuration, the control 332 may not need to perform RAID
operations and may simply issue data transfer commands without
specifying the RAID levels for data storage.
[0054] FIG. 6 illustrates another exemplary embodiment of a data
processing system 301. The data processing system 301 is similar to
the data processing system 300 described above except that an
additional interconnecting device 303, which is also similar to the
interconnecting device 302, is included. Thus, the data processing
system 301 incorporates or integrates the interconnecting device
302 and the interconnecting device 303, both of which has
connections wherein some of which are physically restricted as
previously described. Similar to the data processing system 300,
the data processing system 301 can be a data storage system, a data
storage rack, a data storage network, or other data processing
systems involving in data transfers. The data processing system 301
comprises at least one data storage device 330 and as illustrated
in FIG. 6, four data storage devices 330 are included. In one
embodiment, the data processing system 300 also includes a
controller 332, which manages data transfers within and/or from the
data processing system 300.
[0055] The data processing system 301 is similar to the data
processing system 300 with the following additions. The
interconnecting device 302 allows for host computers or
workstations 334 to connect to the data processing system 300.
Additionally, the interconnecting device 302 also allows for other
external components of the data processing system 300 (e.g.,
another data storage device, not shown), to be connected to the
data processing system 300. The interconnecting device 303 allows
for internal components of the data processing system 300 (e.g.,
the data storage devices 330 and the controller 332) to be
connected to the data processing system 300. The interconnecting
device 303 also connects the internal components such as the data
storage devices 330 to the controller 332. Additionally, the
interconnecting device 303 also allows for additional external
components to be connected into the data processing system 301.
[0056] FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary method 700 of restricting
access to an interconnecting device that can be incorporated into a
data processing system as previously described. At operation 702,
the interconnecting device is configured or provided with a first
plurality of connections ports as previously described. The number
of first connection ports may be varied depending on needs and
applications, and the first connection ports can be anywhere from
one to more than one ports. At operation 704, the interconnecting
device is configured or provided with a second plurality of
connections ports as previously described. The number of second
connection ports may be varied depending on needs and applications,
and the second connection ports can be anywhere from one to more
than one ports. At operation 706, a cover is placed over the first
plurality of connection ports to physically restrict access to the
first plurality of connection ports as previously described.
[0057] FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary method 800 of restricting
access to an interconnecting device that is incorporated into a
storage network as previously described. At operation 802, the
interconnecting device is configured or provided with a first
plurality of connections ports as previously described. The number
of first connection ports may be varied depending on needs and
applications, and the first connection ports can be anywhere from
one to more than one ports. At operation 804, the interconnecting
device is configured or provided with a second plurality of
connections ports as previously described. The number of second
connection ports may be varied depending on needs and applications,
and the second connection ports can be anywhere from one to more
than one ports. At operation 806, a cover is placed over the first
plurality of connection ports to physically restrict access to the
first plurality of connection ports as previously described. At
operation 808, a data storage device as previously described is
coupled to one of the first plurality of connection ports. At
operation 810, a controller as previously described is coupled to
one of the first plurality of connection ports. And, at operation
812, a workstation as previously described is coupled to one of the
second plurality of connection ports. The numbers of the data
storage device, the workstation, the interconnecting device, and
the controller can be varied depending on the need of the data
storage network.
[0058] While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and
shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that
such embodiments are merely illustrative and not restrictive of the
current invention, and that this invention is not restricted to the
specific constructions and arrangements shown and described since
modifications may occur to those ordinarily skilled in the art
* * * * *